@Empiotreus @pretender @watermelon @JustJules and Liza,
With Beatrice still unwilling to face the f-word so soon after her near-death experience, you were very happy that Merron came up with a pretty cool idea to safely climb the spur. Of course, none of that is really relevant when instead of taking the deal with the shadow demon, you decide to engage and fight. Having to hold back Sister Selka from climbing through the monstrous storm by herself, after a short rest you managed to ascend together to a small tower sitting on a cloud and were welcomed for rest, conversation, and tea by Rojaros, who not only offered two elixirs of health, but also star maps to anyone who wanted them AND the holy book (the news of the overbright). He will welcome any religious writing or argument you may want to make and gives you instructions on how to reach him, ideally at his PO Box at the overbright magic school.
Up on top of the Giant’s Spur, you knew no mercy. You burned those poor cockatrices alive, but luckily the barbarian was hungry and found feathers when he wanted meat. You felt heroic as you jumped out of the window, into the overbright after having realised that Kalganro, this despicable cyclops, was petrifying pilgrims, taking them apart into smaller pieces, and then using them to create statues. However, several well-placed hits to the eyes made him a lot less dangerous than he might have been if any of you had actually gotten petrified. In the end, this giant creature died like all the others you slew along the way - with a bunch of arrows in its body and beheaded by the Barbarian.
The remaining living pilgrims - 6 of them - accompany you back down, share the story of what happened and convince most of the remaining pilgrims to leave. A few do prepare for the perilous journey upward to try and rescue more of the petrified friends - provided they can mend the pieces back together, first.
One of the pilgrims feels inspired by Beatrice’s plunge into the unknown and gives her a token of feather fall (consumable).
Ekhale also has the golden cross that glows slightly but otherwise seems to have no magical properties. It is worth 75 GP.
The Red Dragon Aurora is pleased with your work and pays the agreed dragon tax flag. You get the feeling there’s more she wants to say, but just isn’t saying right now.
Hal, Captain Catapult and Garagh successfully cleaned and resupplied the entire ship. They also got you backpay from your merchant’s guild’s representative. - 30 GP per week that you traveled. It has been about four weeks in total since departing Grayhaven, the volcano was 2 weeks ago. Please do the math for your characters.
You also manage to negotiate a better price for the Griffon eggs that you do have, they sell at 400 GP, which comes out to 80 GP pP.
Hal & the Deck crew also managed to convince the Merchant’s Guild to give you some magical items.
- Amulet of Health
- Amulet of the Devout (rare)
- Dragon Wing Bow (Thunder)
- Belt of Hill Giant Strength
- Cloak of Displacement
(Everyone can choose one, multiple people can choose the same).
You have not used any of the consumables you have found, so the party adds
- 3 Spell Scrolls (need to look up the spells again, blink, and…. )
- 2 Potions given to you by Rojaros
to the equipment on board the Matilda.
Marik is told by Sister Selka what the second part of the rune meant. Essentially, sailing into the sunrise from the spot where the run was at the top was the direction of the treasure. Luckily, it’s in a similar direction as the party has to travel anyway.
As per VALUE rules, you may gain one level and 10 downtime days. Please note the next 2-3 adventures will still have the level 5 cap. You can also shop around the trader’s shoals if you want to, before you leave. You can purchase any common items or equipment at your own discretion.
Thanks for playing Voyage of the Fallen Star - Pillar of the Giants! Next session is in 2 weeks, which is… February 7?.
I will be unable to make the session in 4 weeks, so we will either play 2 in a row at some point or move to a new rhythm. I had lots of fun watching you RP and specifically destroying the Cockatrices (back when I thought the cyclops was going to TPK you :D) and I hope you did too. See you soon, hopefully.
Story Awards
@empiotreus and @pretender - The Forsaken
On your way back down the spur to the trader’s shoals, you talk to the pilgrims who have lost their faith and show them your new holy book. Desperate for something to believe in, they start copying it. You take the chance to actually rename it “Forsaken” on the spot. The pilgrims set out to form a cult wit you two (Art and Exhale) as cult leaders, calling themselves “the forsaken”. If/when we encounter a group of humanoids, you have a 10% chance of encountering followers, who will do anything reasonable for you. E.g. shelter, errands, meat shields (as long as you argue it religiously).
@Watermelon (the Fallen)
Beatrice is now known as the Fallen. While she is still terrified of falling down for as long as you choose, she has also learnt that overcoming fears means facing them, not avoiding them - once per day, you can get advantage on any saving throw against fear.